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A close-up of a plate of vegetable pad Thai with tofu, peanuts, lime wedge, and fresh mint leaves, garnished with chopped vegetables and a fork on the side.
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5 from 4 votes

Thai Peanut Noodles

Creamy peanut sauce hugs every strand of these chewy noodles, while tons of fresh veggies and herbs bring the crunch. Spicy, savory, and ridiculously easy to throw together, this one’s a keeper.
Prep Time7 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time27 minutes
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Thai
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 6 Cups
Calories: 253kcal
Author: Adam Sobel
Cost: $9

Equipment

Ingredients

For the Optional Pan-Fried Tofu:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 8 oz. extra firm tofu pressed dry, and cut into 1-inch strips

For the Noodle Salad:

  • 12 cups boiling water
  • 8 oz. wide rice noodles dried
  • ½ cup carrot julienne cut, or grated
  • ½ cup red cabbage shredded
  • 1 cup red bell pepper thinly sliced
  • 1 cup yellow bell pepper thinly sliced
  • ½ cup cilantro chopped

For the Sauce:

Optional Garnishes:

  • Lime wedges
  • Cilantro leaves
  • Mint leaves
  • Dry roasted peanuts crushed
  • Sliced bird’s eye chilies

Instructions

  • To make the optional fried tofu, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. After 90 seconds, when the oil is hot, add the tofu strips in a single layer. Cook for 3–4 minutes on each side until golden brown and crisp. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
  • Bring 12 cups of water to a boil in a large pot. Add the dried noodles and cook according to the package instructions until tender. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the carrot, red cabbage, red bell pepper, and yellow bell pepper. Add the cooled noodles and toss gently.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, vegetarian oyster sauce, sriracha, garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, tamari, and warm water until smooth.
  • Pour the sauce over the noodles and vegetables, tossing until evenly coated. If using, add the fried tofu and gently mix to combine.
  • Serve immediately or chill before serving. Garnish with lime wedges, cilantro leaves, mint leaves, crushed dry roasted peanuts, and sliced bird’s eye chilies if desired.

Notes

💪 Pressing Matters:
Press tofu like it owes you money! Wrap extra-firm tofu in a towel, put it on a wire rack with something heavy on top, and let it sit for 15 minutes to squeeze out excess water for crispy, golden perfection.
Noodle Time-Out:
Noodles don’t like to wait! Cook them al dente, rinse under cold water right away to stop cooking, then toss ‘em in the sauce. No one likes soggy noodles that fall the heck apart!

Nutrition

Calories: 253kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Sodium: 621mg | Potassium: 337mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 2789IU | Vitamin C: 86mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 1mg